Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-01-20

would have been eXcruciating agony, but
rather eherishing the pain which was q
possible means Of saving my life. But
feared my case was past all help, for / wns
sensible that the contractions Of my heart
were growing very feeble, and respiration
became more and more difficult.
felt the keenest anguish, and l knew
that there remained only one final stage,
that Of falling into faint before death
supcrvened.
Just as my senses were ,deserting me, l
was able 10 clutch the bottle of brandy,
and once more poured out large guam
tity into the glass. With an effort just
managed to raise 1t TO my lips, and
quafTed the requickening spirit, which
acted on my Frustrated nerves like
magic draught.
rallied; and with fierce dctermina-
tion TO live, braccd my seness together
for final struggle with the potent poi
son, which was now coursing like liquid
fire through every vein in my body. The
brandy had no intoxicating results, its
ordinary effects being neutralized by
the virus in my body. The giant Alcohol
had for once to combat with q rival
mlghtier than himself, and my life de-
pended on the issue of the struggle
Knowing might at any moment lapse
into the fatal comatose state, hastily
gave my instructions to Veerapen and the
cook while my mind remained clear. l
directed them to hold me by my arms,
one on either side, to keep me walking
about, and on no account to suffer me to
lie down or go to sleep. l explained to
Veerapcn that my life depended on my
being kept awake, and l ordered him to
check the fatal drowsiness by thrashing
me with my own horsewhip if necessary,
and not to spare it.
Veerapen armed himself with the whip
as ordered, and he and the cook began
marching me up and down the room An
| overwhelming faintness soon came upon
me, from which further large dose of
brandy failed to rouse me, and | should
have gone to sleep as walked, had not
Veerapen then administered sharp cut
across my calves.
| The pain stung me into activity, and
turned upon my servant with an amount
| of fury which caused him to retreat in
hot haste. But remembering why the
blow was given. | thanked him for it,
curbing my passion and telling him to re-
sumo his cure of me. begged him. no
matter what my present anger might be,
to continue, by the severe means had
placed in his hands, to prevent my falling
asleep, as l would handsomely reward
him if he saved my life.
I cannot recollect all that passed. but
Veerapen told me that / alternately com
manded and cntreated with tears in my
eyes to be allowed to go to sleep if only
for minute, but that the only attention
he paid to my threats or entreaties was
to lay on all the harder with the whip.
The blows reused me from my state of
torpor for q few minutes only at q time,
but during these intervals of conscious
ness thoroughly relished the cure was
voluntarily undergoing, and experienced
positive pleasure in feeling the stinging
cuts showered on my back, arms and
legs by my lusty attendant.
The struggle for life was protracted,
but gradually the pulsations of my heart
became more regular, the load which had
oppressed my breathing was slowly lifted
from my chest, the fatal yearning for
sleep rolled away, and knew the mortal
risk was over.
Perhaps Veerapen had q few scores to
pay off-anyhow, he discharged his duty
so thoroughly that by the time I was out
of danger l was black and blue form
head to foot, but bore him no grudge
for these striking marks of his fidelity.
/ know | consumed great deal of
brandy, but did not think had finished
as much as six bottles. Veerapen, how
ever, assured me had not only taken
that quantity, but had wished to have
more, only he had refused to let me have
it. He produced half dozen ''gentle-
men commoners" as vouchers to his as
sertion, and if he and the cook had not
grossly exceeded the limits of sobriety
that night, might have been persuaded
that alone had swallowed full gallon
imperial measure of old cognac As it
was, formed an opinion that my worthy
servitors had been drinking my very good
health and speedy recovery, and did not
reprove them for the jollifcation on such
an occasion.
gave nay faithful boy twelve months
pay, and to the cook six, Us a reward for
their timely services. do not think
anything could induce me to part with
Veerapen, or Veerapen to leave me as
long as l remain in the country and
shall give him q pension for life when l
finally retire from India.
The effects of the poison did not alto
gether disappear for some time, but
manifested themselves at intervals in
muscular spasms, which were very pain
full and accompanied by great depression
Of spirits. Time, however, cures all
things, and | am to-day as sound as
though had never been within IN ace of
losing my life through the bite of tic
polonga. Society.